Google Enhances Child Safety Online - Search, YouTube & More

Google Enhances Online Safety for Minors Across its Services

Following Instagram’s recent implementation of increased protections for young users, Google is now introducing similar measures across its suite of products. This includes Google Search, YouTube, YouTube Kids, Google Assistant, and other platforms.

Expanded Protections and Policy Updates

The company announced a series of product and policy changes designed to enhance the privacy and safety of younger individuals online. These updates also aim to limit ad targeting practices that may be unsuitable for minors.

Google’s changes are more extensive than those announced by Instagram, encompassing a wider range of products rather than being confined to a single application.

While some updates are driven by upcoming regulations, Google emphasizes that it is proactively going beyond legal requirements to protect teenagers on its platforms.

YouTube Adjustments for Younger Users

On YouTube, the default upload setting for users aged 13 to 17 will be adjusted to the most private option. This will restrict video visibility to the user and those they directly share with, rather than the general public.

Teen users will still have the option to change the setting to “public,” but they will be required to make a deliberate and conscious decision to do so. YouTube will also provide reminders about who can view their content.

These changes will apply only to new uploads and will not retroactively affect existing videos.

Digital Wellbeing Features

YouTube will also automatically enable “take a break” and bedtime reminders for users aged 13 to 17. Autoplay will also be disabled by default.

Users can, however, choose to disable these digital wellbeing features if they prefer.

YouTube Kids Enhancements

For YouTube Kids, an autoplay option will be added, but it will be turned off by default. This gives parents control over whether or not autoplay is enabled for their children.

This change addresses concerns raised by child safety advocates and members of Congress regarding algorithmic features.

Parents will also eventually be able to “lock” their preferred autoplay setting.

Content Moderation on YouTube Kids

YouTube will remove “overly commercial content” from YouTube Kids, responding to pressure from consumer advocacy groups and childhood development experts.

The company will remove videos focusing on product packaging, such as “unboxing” videos, as well as content that encourages purchasing or excessive consumption.

Image Search and Account Adjustments

Google will introduce a new policy allowing individuals under 18, or their parents/guardians, to request the removal of their images from Google Image Search results.

This expands upon existing “right to be forgotten” policies and introduces new controls for children and teenagers globally.

For users under 18, SafeSearch filtering will be enabled by default, particularly through Google Family Link. It will also be the default for new teen accounts.

SafeSearch protections will also be enabled by default on shared devices using Google Assistant.

Location History and Google Play

Location history is already off by default, but children with supervised accounts will no longer be able to enable it. This restriction will extend to all users under 18 worldwide.

On Google Play, a new section will inform parents about apps that adhere to its Families policies. App developers will also be required to disclose their data collection and usage practices.

Parental Controls and Advertising Changes

Google is expanding its parental control tools, allowing parents to filter and block news, podcasts, and webpages on Assistant-enabled devices.

For advertisers, Google will expand safeguards to prevent age-sensitive ad categories from being shown to teens. It will also block ad targeting based on age, gender, or interests for users under 18.

This is a more stringent approach than Instagram’s changes, which still allowed targeting by age and gender.

Global Rollout

All of these changes across Google and YouTube will be rolled out globally in the coming weeks and months.